Power transmission mechanism



March 25, 1947. P. E. REIMULLER POWER TRANSMISSION MECHAISM Filed may25, 1944 Patented Mar. 25,- 1947 Y fi f Unirse s 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in power transmission mechanism.A prime object is to provide means for economically and eincientlytransmitting power from a cylinder to a crankshaft or other point ofdelivery. More specifically the invention provides a ball and socketassembly for connecting a piston to a crankshaft, A further object is toprovide means for revolving the piston while it reciprocates within thecylinder. Revolution of the piston in addition to its normal or usualmovement insures its even wear as Well as like wear of the cylinder Walland the piston rings and assures the maintenance of concentricity or theelimination of eccentricity.

A further object is to provide means insuring equal heat distributionover the cylinder wall or within the cylinder, maximum compression,

longer cylinder, piston and piston ring life; to retard or prevent theformation of carbon between the piston rings and piston and between thepiston and cylinder wall, and insure piston ring seal. In the instantstructure the wrist pin is eliminated and an even expansion of thepiston over all of its surface is had due to the resultant floatingaction afforded by the ball and socket assembly.

A further object is to provide power transmission mechanism for use inconnection with pistons and cylinders wherein uniform lubrication' ofthe moving parts is assured as desired, overheating prevented thusassuring maximum power delivery from minimum fuel consumption.

A-further purpose of this invention is to provide a design whereby manydifficult problems connected with power transmission involving the useof gasolene, oil or steam are eliminated thus providing means for a moreeicient operation and maintenance. It is a known fact that cylinderswear unevenly causing almost insurmountable obstacles to compressionmaintenance asin the normal course of operation the piston rings almostbecome integral with the piston due to carbon formation and theformation of other foreign matter providing a seal.

As a result of this condition the cylinder has a tendency to warp and towear more on one side than on another becoming distorted and permittinggases to bypass the piston rings and escape into the crank case of theengine causingdama-ge.

In many engines inserts in the form of sleeves are being placed .in thecylinder, These inserts are made of stainless steel or other acidresisting metals which will eliminate the pitting effect of the acidscreated during cold operation. However, unless the piston and rings arerevolved even stainless steel inserts can and Will Warp, wearelliptically permitting the escape of gases into the crank case. Inhoning a cylinder the hone must be revolved or oscillated during thereciprocating motion through the cylinder in order to maintain a trueconcentric boretherefore by revolving the piston and rin-gs in theirnormal operation they will be maintained concentric and the rings willnot become fastened by carbon or other foreign matter to the piston. Theelimination of the wrist pin in this design, a short stub piston rodbeing directly secured to the inner wall of the piston, will furtherinsure even wear and carbon elimination.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists inthe combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter fullydescribed, pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing which forms a part of this patent and in Which- Fig. l is a Viewin elevation and partly in section of an engine illustrating theapplication of the instant power transmission mechanism sho-wingconnection between the piston rod and crankshaft.

Fig. 2 is a view taken at right angles to Fig. 1 substantially on theline 2-2 thereof, a portion of the socket being removed, the piston andcylinder wall also bein-g shown, the piston rod being shortened,threaded, and secured direct to the piston without the use of wrist pin,a modied form being here disclosed.

l Fig 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view through Fig. 2 `on the line3--3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a View partly in elevation and partly in cross section throughFig. 3 on the line ziitaken at the end of an oscillatory movement.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 but taken atv Y perspective of adrive block employed. Y

Like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

The reference numeral I denotes a crankshaft, 2 the crank, 3 the crankpin engaged by the pitman 4 that is integral with the substantiallyhemispherical socket portion 5 having the beveled truncated portion 6 of180 degrees extent, said socket portion being formed also with theoppositely disposed ears 'I perforated. An hemispherical cap 8complementary to said socket portion 5 in all respects is receivedthereupon with the ears 9 perforated in alignment with the perforationsin ears I to receive the screws I whereby said socket portions arereleasably secured together, the truncate portions of cap 8corresponding to that of portion 6 aforesaid.

Snugly received within socket 8, 8 for full oating movement is the ballshaped head II at the end of the piston rod I2 arranged in bearing I3and connected to the piston. In` Fig. 3, modification, this piston rodis shortened and connected directly to the piston within same withoutthe use of a wrist pin by threads I3I, the piston I30 being shown incylinder |32, The said cap and socket portions are formed respectivelywith diametrically opposed rectangular extensions I4, I of identicalformation positioned midway between the ears of each socket portion orninety degrees from each ear. i

The cut away portion of the socket is of a diameter sutcient to provideclearance for its movement relative to the ball II and piston rod l2.Formed peripherally completely about the ball I I horizontally andcentrally is the ball race I6 in which are arranged the twin oppositelydisposed free floating substantially Wedge shaped dogs I'I, I1 eachhaving a segmental outwardly disposed peripheral wall I8, a steppedinner wall I9, one square shaped large end wall 20 and a very narrowopposite end wall 2|, each dog having ay transverse uniform thicknesspermitting it to be snugly and slidably received in said race I6. In theinner face at the thicker end of each dog is formed a round semi-ballshaped depression 22 to receive the snug tting ball 23 that also ridesin the said race IB to guide the dog within the said race. Disposed uponthe inner face of each dog I1 upon its narrower wedge shaped portion isanother ball 24 that serves as the piston reciprocates to impart arotary movement thereto, to the piston rod and to the ball II, said ball24 also riding in said race I6 and being retained against displacementby a spring 25 secured to the narrow edge or end of said dog.

Said floating dogs Il, I'I are also formed upon their peripheral wallsI8 with semi-ball shaped recesses 26 registering with race grooves'49formed in the inner faces of drive blocks 21 of counterpart formation,their inner faces beveled complementary to the ball periphery, snuglyreceived in the oppositely disposed rectangular extensions I4, I5, eachpair of recesses and grooves 26, 40 snugly receiving a dog-impellingball 29 movable back and forth from end to end of said groove 49 thusoscillating said dogs from a, point 39 in the race I6 to a point 3ltherein. It will be noted that the dogs Il are arranged within the raceI6 with their narrower ends disposed in opposite directions while theirrecesses 216 in register with recesseslil in said drive blocks aredisposed in opposite directions.

Thus it is that as said rod I2 reciprocates said crankshaft is rotated,a rocking movement irnparted to socket 5, 8 causing balls 29 to travelback and forth in the grooves 4D in block 21 and reciprocating movementin opposite directions to the floating dogs II, I1 and causing balls 24,24 to impart a rotary movement to ball II, rod I2 and the piston. Fromthe axial position of the pitman 4, which is degrees from the positionshown in Fig. 1, the extensions I4, I5 will be horizontally disposed andthe balls 29 will be located centrally of the grooves 4U of blocks 21. Afurther movement of 90 degrees from axial position will disposeextensions I4, I5 in oppositely tilted positions to that shown in Fig. 1with the balls 29 at relatively opposite ends of the grooves 40 to thatshown dotted in Fig. 1. During this movement through degrees from Fig. 1position the balls 29 have moved from end to end of the grooves 40 thusirnpelling the dogs I'I from point 30 to point 3| thus causing the balls24 to frictionally engage the ball II and partially rotate same andpiston rod I2 in the direction denoted by the arrow at the upper end ofpiston rod I2, Fig. 1. The further movement of the piston rod I2 willcause the socket 6, 8 through blocks 21 and balls 29 to return the dogsI'I to their former positions. One complete revolution of the crankshaftor one complete up and down stroke of the piston causes one back andforth movement of balls 29 in grooves 40. From the Fig. 1 position,

which shows the down stroke one-half completed, through an arc of 180degrees or to a position of one-half completion of the up stroke is anidle movement as far as piston rotation is concerned. The second half ofthe complete stroke is the work movement. Thus an intermittent rotarymovement is imparted to the ball I I, piston rod I2 and piston 3, alwaysin the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, as the mechanism operates.

What is claimed is:

1. In a power transmission mechanism, a ball, a ball race formedperipherally of said ball, a socket receiving said ball, diametricallyopposed blocks carried by said socket formed with oppositely disposedball races, dogs carried in said first named ball race contiguous tosaid blocks formed with ball grooves registering with said inclined ballraces, and ball connection between said dogs and said first named ballrace and between said dogs and said blocks.

2. In a power transmission mechanism, a reciprocating ball, a ball raceformed peripherally of said ball, a socket receiving said ball,diametically oppo-sed blocks carried by said socket having their innerfaces recessed complementary to the ball periphery and formed in saidfaces with oppositely inclined ball races, oating dogs arranged in saidiirst named ball race contiguous to said blocks formed with ball groovesregistering with said inclined ball races, said dogs being formed withlstepped inner faces each having a ball groove, balls engaging the innerstepped faces of said dogs and said rst named ball race, one of saidballs disposed in an inner face recess, and balls disposed in saidinclined ball races and the adjacent ball grooves in said dogs. Y

3. In a power transmission, a ball, a horizontal ball race formed insaid ball, a socket receiving said'ball freely, diametrically opposedblocks carried by said socket formed with oppositely disposed ballraces, substantially wedge-shaped dogs arranged in said iirst named ballrace contiguous to said blocks formed with ball grooves registering withsaid inclined ball races, the narrow ends of said dogs being disposed inopposite directions, said dogs being formed, with stepped inner faces,balls engaging the inner stepped faces of said dogs and said iirst namedball race, balls' disposed in said inclined ball races and the adjacentball grooves, and springs carried by said, dogs for engagement with oneof said balls.

4. In combination, a reciprocating ball, a ball race formed in saidball, a socket receiving said ball freely, and means connecting saidsocket and ball for transmitting motion from said ball through saidsocket and for imparting a rotary movement to said ball as samereciprooates, said means including oppositely disposed Wedgeshaped dogsarranged in said ball race, corresponding ends of said dogs beingdisposed in opposite directions.

PAUL EDWIN REIMULLJEIR REFERENCES CHED The following references are ofrecord in the 5 le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

